Selby takes a pot shot at TV table whingers
LEICESTER STAR INTO SCOTTISH OPEN SEMI-FINALS
MARK Selby hit back at Ricky Walden’s complaints about the television table conditions and had a message for snooker’s lower-ranked players: “It’s up to you to get better.”
The Jester from Leicester kept his Scottish Open title defence alive as he toppled Walden, the world No.39, 5-4 in an intriguing quarter-final in Milton Keynes yesterday, writes Will Jennings of Sportsbeat.
World No.4 Selby has played all of his matches on the TV tables while Walden, a former world No.6 before suffering a back injury, had navigated his way to the last eight after playing four matches away from the cameras.
Walden joined the chorus of players bemoaning the differences between the set-ups but Selby, who represented England with Walden at the beginning of his career, delivered a punchy riposte.
The 37-year-old said: “It’s tough – to be fair to Ricky, if he didn’t have the injury he had, he’d still be in the top 16 now and would be out there playing his matches on TV all the while. Because [the lower-ranked players] are not out there that often, it’s a totally different experience.
“It’s a lot more pressure and until they win a few frames, they don’t really settle.
“The first few times I was on the TV I played really poorly, as you’re not used to it and you’re a rabbit in the headlights.
“I do sympathise but at the same time, we’ve all had to go through it at some stage.
“The reason the top players are on the same table all the while because they’re there for a reason.
“They’ve done it over the years to get to that position, and that’s the perks of getting to the top of the rankings.
“I slipped down the rankings in the last couple of years and played on a couple of outside tables, and I’ve not got a problem with that at all.
“It is tough to get used to, but if you move up the rankings you get on the TV a lot more and get used to it. is
“I’m sure Ricky will be climbing up the rankings soon and be back on the TV tables in no time.”
Selby struck two half-century breaks and a brilliant 135 but Walden showed why he’s a three-time ranking event winner by making 117 and 74 to level at four frames apiece.
But the three-time world champion delivered a characteristically gusty decider display as a break of 58 hauled him over the line.
The defending champion will meet either World Championship finalist Kyren Wilson or underdog Jamie Jones, the world No.80, in today’s semi-final.
Selby insists he isn’t thinking about the trophy just yet and knows he’ll need to up his game if he’s to scoop his second piece of silverware of the season.
He added: “Unless I win the next game and I’m in the final, then I’ll start thinking about it.
“It’s still another two tough matches potentially so I’ll get some rest now and focus on Saturday.”
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